Axel Scheffler

Biographical info

Axel Scheffler was born in 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. After school, he briefly studied History of Art at the University of Hamburg, but did not complete the degree. Instead, he moved to England and studied illustration at the Bath Academy of Art. Axel graduated with a first class degree and moved to London where he began illustrating for a variety of English and German advertising companies, magazines and newspapers.

BibliographyThe Piemakers, written by Helen Cresswell, published by FaberThe Bottle Rabbit, written by Bernard McCabe, published by FaberYou're a Hero, Daley B, written by Jon Blake, published by Walker Books 1992Sam Who Went to Sea, written by Phyllis Root, published by Walker BooksThe Tickle Book, written by Ian Whybrow, published by Macmillan Children’s BooksTales from Acorn Wood: Postman Bear, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s BooksA Squash and a Squeeze, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s BooksThe Gruffalo, written by Julia Donaldson, published 1999 by Macmillan Children’s BooksMonkey Puzzle, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2000 by Macmillan Children’s BooksRoom on the Broom, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2001 by Macmillan Children’s BooksThe Smartest Giant in Town, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books Tales from Acorn Wood: Rabbit’s Nap, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s BooksJuice the Pig, written by Martine Osborne, published 1995 by Macmillan Children’s BooksJingle Jangle Jungle, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s BooksProverbs from Far and Wide, published 1997 by Macmillan Children’s BooksThe Snail and the Whale, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s BooksTales from Acorn Wood: Fox's Socks, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s BooksMuddle Farm, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s BooksThe Gruffalo's Child, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2004 by Macmillan Children’s BooksCharlie Cook's Favourite Book, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2005 by Macmillan Children's Books

The Gruffalo is a perennial favourite with young and old alike. It has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 20 languages. It was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and it won the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud. Monkey Puzzle was also nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Room on the Broom won the 2002 Blue Peter Award for The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud.

Axel Scheffler's books have been translated into over 29 languages. Although his partnership with Julia Donaldson has been particularly successful, his novelty books such as The Bedtime Bear are bestsellers too.